Integration leads to security success

Stand-alone security solutions can work, but integrated security solutions are what you really need.

A good example to follow

In the past few IDC InfoBrief blogs, we’ve touched on the need to simplify your security estate and fill the skills gap. Now it’s time to look at how the most successful organisations use integration to take their security to the next level.

The IDC InfoBrief, sponsored by BT and McAfee Security, titled ‘Managing Security Operations: Towards Integration and Automation’, revealed that mature organisations with advanced security strategies tend to favour integration first, and functionality second. Eighty-one per cent of these organisations prioritise integration when buying security products. While two-thirds of companies that don’t have a security plan in place tend to buy products with no consideration for integration.

But what is integration, and why are these successful organisations so keen to make the most of it?

What is integration?

The integration of security technologies is simply the act of ensuring that multiple solutions work together to create a stronger cyber defence. Imagine your security suite is made up of different solutions that you’ve bought over the years. Many of these don’t work together, and some might even actively work against the efficacy of others. Now compare that to a set of security solutions that are specifically designed to work in harmony with each other. That’s what integration means.

Why are top organisations trying to integrate?

First, integration is intrinsically more efficient. But it goes further than that. The key benefit here is that integration enables automation, and automation brings a whole new level of efficiency and productivity.

We talked about automation in the last blog — how it can help fill the security skills gap by automating jobs that you don’t have the people or skills to complete. But automation’s effect can be felt far outside this skills gap. It can reduce costs, help manage risk compliance, raise productivity and reduce errors.

That’s why over 70 per cent of the security stakeholders asked in the IDC InfoBrief said that they were enthusiastic about adopting automation to manage their IT security.

Find out more

It’s clear from the IDC InfoBrief that security and integration go hand in hand. But that’s not all the research has to say. It’s packed with insight, advice and required reading for any organisation looking to stay secure in an increasingly dangerous threat landscape.

And if you’re considering either integration or automation, remember that doing it alone isn’t easy. With our experience and expertise, we can help you make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. So make sure to get in touch to find out more about how we can help you make the most of these powerful new solutions.